HK invites 116 PHL witnesses for Manila hostage probe

The Hong Kong Coroner's Office has formally invited 116 Filipino witnesses who may shed light on the Aug. 23 Manila hostage crisis that resulted in the deaths of eight Hong Kong tourists. At a press briefing Thursday, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said her department — through its Office of the Chief State Counsel — sent out the invitations to the 116 witnesses in the "spirit of cooperation." "We are willing to cooperate because that is what is prescribed in the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)," she said. Among those given invitations were SPO2 Gregorio Mendoza, brother of slain hostage-taker Rolando Mendoza; several police officials led by retired Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Jesus Versoza; Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno; TV5 and RMN commentator Erwin Tulfo; RMN reporter Michael Rogas; GMA 7 reporter Susan Enriquez; and forensic experts and members of the SWAT involved in the rescue operation. De Lima said those invited are not required to appear before Hong Kong authorities during the investigation set to start on February 14. "We advised the witnesses that the giving of testimony is voluntary," she said. De Lima was not included in the list, but she said she has no plans to appear voluntarily. "The Department of Foreign Affairs actually advised me that in the absence of an official invitation or summons, my part or attendance is not essential," she said. But the DOJ chief noted that those who choose to appear before the HK Coroner's Office may refer to the MLAT, which says that as witnesses, they cannot be subjected to prosecution. "The directive of [President Benigno Aquino III] is that sovereignty has to be protected and the rights of the witnesses be protected," De Lima said. De Lima said appearance in a personal choice of the witness, as well as whether they will hire a counsel during the investigation. "We will study that, kung kailangan mag-assist ang DOJ (if the DOJ needs to assist them)," she said. Moreover, she said the HK government will shoulder all expenses of the witnesses who will testify, but that they have yet to determine whether the witnesses have to personally go to the Chinese territory or whether the inquest can be done in the Philippines. De Lima said Hong Kong based its list of 116 witnesses on the names found in the Philippines’ Incident Investigation and Review Committee (IIRC) report. The IIRC, which De Lima headed, conducted the public hearings that looked into the hostage tragedy. On Aug. 23, 2010, Rolando Mendoza, a dismissed policeman, commandeered a tourist bus with mostly Hong Kong tourists on board and demanded that he be reinstated into the police force. He went on a shooting rampage when negotiations bogged down. He was killed in a police assault at the conclusion of the 11-hour standoff. — KBK/LBG, GMANews.TV